I "saw" Wood Knocking., and it wasn't a form of communication. Options

[BigFootie]

Most people here don’t know me from any other newbie so I will give you a little back ground information before you wade through this very long post.

I have been bigfooting for over 30 years. It’s a personal pursuit, quite a solitary part of my life. I like it that way. I have not shared any of my experiences other than anecdotally a very few times. I have not read any of the books, seen the movies or partaken in web sites, forums or conferences prior to March of this year when I became curious as to what other people know and are doing.

Many of the things I know and have learned have not been tainted or enhanced by the observations or experiences of others. I have missed the boat on many instances and have developed completely different theories on others. I have searched this particular observation on the popular web sites and this forum, I have asked a moderator here on the BFF for help in searching the archives a few months ago. Nothing was found. I have not found another reference to tree knocking as a method of food procurement.

I will answer any and all questions you may have, but on some days I may not check the thread until evening so be patient. I have no empirical evidence from the incident. No photos, plaster casts, collaborating witness or hair, just my observations and testimonial evidence. It is what it is, take it as you will.


September 23rd 1999. Sunny, low 70’s, a fresh steady fall breeze, approximately 3:00 pm, Adirondack State Park in the town of Whitehall N.Y. within 5 miles of the location of the infamous “Thumping in Whitehall� thread. I was bird watching for migrating Raptors along the western facing ridges of a favorite Mountain top. I was about 300 feet below the summit on the top of the cliffs. The idea is to watch the migrating raptors, local red tails and vultures catch the late afternoon thermals rising from the forest floor and with the right wind direction hitting the rock face of the ridge the birds will “pop� up within 20 feet of the edge of the cliff for some close and spectacular views. It was a great day and I was absorbed with the acrobatics in front of me.

Note: I believe my scent must have been carried behind me to the area that the sighting occurred because the breeze was steady into my face for a few hours prior. I had to have been scented.

My attention was focused in front of me and out into the sky for a mile. After the sighting I theorized that the sounds I heard behind me for 10 or 15 minutes prior were not hikers as I thought. The sounds were relatively benign sounds you would hear from a hiker clumsily approaching. Branches snapping, rocks “gently� clicking, rolling or moving as they are walked upon. About 5 or 6 instances of sounds were heard. Since I was not paying close attention I can only theorize this and if that is true the animal was closer to me at that point, perhaps 20 yards. When the sighting took place these types of ancillary sounds could not be heard due to the distance and interference of other sounds produced by the breeze itself and wind rustled leaves. But based on the observed movements I believe sounds were being made.

I heard a clear loud single “whack� not unusual in it’s self but my instinctual reaction was not that of being annoyed by another human invading my peace, but a feeling of concern. I was already sitting between 2 large rocks concealing my profile from the birds so I turned around and watched and listened. There was movement 90 yards distance, as determined by my 20x spotting scope. The woods were too shadowed for good light transmission to use my 20x60 spotting scope and I could not manage the attached tripod with out chancing excessive noise. I did gain a good focus at the point of movement and left the scope in that position and viewed it on a local football field on the way home to determine the point of focus. (after duct taping the focus ring in place prior to the hike down the mountain.)

I switched to my very bright 10x50 binoculars. The sun was to my back, the forest foliage was thick with approximately 70% deciduous trees, ground cover was sparse to non existent but the rise in the terrain caused the foliage of the trees in the forefront to partially obscure my view, the shadows were strong.

This is what I saw. Initially I saw a large upright animal dark in color approximately 6.5 feet in height, extremely wide in the shoulders and narrow in the waist with thighs that appeared very large in proportion to the body. It’s arms were relaxed at its side and long beyond the knees. My observation lasted about 10 minutes and the remainder of the time the arms did not again relax to be at the side but were held in front or active in whacking the tree. My impression or gut feeling was that of a young, robust, agile animal. It was fur covered but shadows and obstructions were too heavy to allow me to see too much detail. I determined the 6.5 foot height by measuring a glacially cleaved rock with a flat face that the animal was next to that later measured 3 feet and 3 inches. I “eye balled� the animal to be twice as tall as the rock. I estimated the weight to be 400+ lbs. I was 5’10 and 220 muscular lbs. at the time and it was easily twice the mass as I was. Through out the sighting it was mostly moving and active with it’s back to me and facing uphill so details of hair length, facial features were not obvious. And, I actually quite interested and focused on it’s behavior. I'm more an amateur behaviorist than a taxonomist .

I will summarize what happened next. The animal held a large stick in it’s right hand (paw ?) and hit a tree in front of it (up hill) very hard. The tree was about 14 inches in diameter and the animal swung the stick with all arm, no body twisting. It stopped and looked up the tree waiting about 2 minutes and then hit the tree again. This time quickly moving to the next tree about 6 inches in diameter and vigorously shook the tree. It was then that I saw there was an animal in the tree acting quite frantic as it tried to climb higher in the tree but was knocked loose by the shaking and fell about 5 feet and was able to grab another branch. It then made a drastic jump back to the original tree which was immediately whacked again 1 time. I realized it was a raccoon as it jumped back to the 2nd tree which was immediately shook again. The raccoon fell to the ground in a manner that was partially behind the larger tree. There was some rapid movement and the animal stooped and somewhat scooted or shuffled in a squatting position a few feet behind the tree and stopped. I couldn’t see if the raccoon was grabbed as it fell or whacked with the stick but there was little movement for almost 5 minutes as the animal remained in a squatting position. It then stood up and walked into a tighter stand of trees that made it even more difficult to see as it steadily moved south parallel to the ridge line and disappeared into the distance. I waited 20 minutes and approached the area. I didn’t find the stick used to hit the trees and I didn’t see it carried away, but it could have been and I didn’t see it. I did find the right hind foot of the raccoon and ¾ of the tail along with a patch of fur about 2x3 inches in size that I believe came from the top of the raccoons head. That’s all I found. The ground was hard and very rocky, there is not much substrate suitable for holding impressions but I did see some scuff marks that were made. I did look for hairs although quickly as I felt compelled to leave.

I felt in danger to a small degree, but only to the extent one feels in danger in the presence of something massive that could be destructive. Like standing 10 feet from a passing train, no outward threat or escalating danger as long as no one moves. That’s what it felt like. I have been back a number of times … but with my shorty 12 ga. pump in my pack.

Additionally, I did not hear or see any people in the woods that day where I was for approximately 8 hours. Which is precisely why I like this area. There had been minor traffic on the access road 1 mile away during the day as evidenced by “car� sounds. I believe I was the only person actually “in the woods� that day for at least 2 miles in all directions. During the time of the sighting I heard no other sounds from the animal. No calling, walking sounds, grunting, raccoon squealing, limb breaking. No unusual smells. At one point as the animal was squatting partially hidden behind the tree. It abruptly stopped and leaned back to look directly at me for about 3 seconds. Then resumed what it was doing. I am certain that it scented me at that time, I slowly checked wind direction with the “lick the finger method� and it was right on for delivering my scent. In case everyone doesn’t know. Put your index finger in your moth getting the tip wet and hold it up, the side that feels cool as the breeze evaporates the saliva will be the direction the wind is coming from. Rudimentary but effective. At no time did the animal walk on all fours, actually it appeared cumbersome at the point that it moved while close to the ground ie. stooped, scooted, shuffled. It was definitely “built� for 2 feet and it did have a general humanesque (my own word) nature about it’s movements as apposed to a great ape. I have not misspoken concerning my use of 10x50 binoculars and not seeing greater detail in the animal, that is accurate. The shadows, foliage and 90 yards of tree trunks in this healthy forest prevented me from seeing detail.

As a personal opinion I would characterize it’s movements as smooth, deliberate, efficient, powerful and balanced as beautiful an example of a survivor as nature has to offer. I was in awe.

Before you even ask. It was not a bear, I’ve seen many and it was not a bear. It was not a human, I’ve seen a lot of them too, even 7 foot tall ones and it was not a human.



Thank you for your time. I have made this such a long post as to give you as much information as possible and maybe answer the more obvious questions thereby facilitating more detailed questions.


Bigfootie